Emmys 2021: Attendees Required To Be Fully Vaccinated, Show Negative COVID-19 Test

Awards season is being revived this year after last year's virtual ceremonies amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Since the public health crisis is still ongoing, the Television Academy has decided to impose some requirements for the stars attending the 2021 Emmys.

The TV Academy announced Thursday that attendees and guests of the Primetime Emmy Awards and Creative Arts Emmy Awards will be required to show proof that they have been fully vaccinated against the coronavirus. Interestingly, there is also a need for them to provide a recent negative COVID-19 test result.

“An added requirement for attendees has been issued: In addition to proof of full vaccination with either an FDA- or WHO-authorized vaccine, attendees at all four shows will be required to provide proof of a negative RT-PCR COVID test prior to admission to all Emmy ceremonies,” the TV Academy was quoted as saying by The Hollywood Reporter in a statement.

Emmys 2021 is divided into four parts this year. The Primetime ceremony will be taking place on Sept. 19. On the other hand, the Creative Arts event for the recognition of technical and other similar achievements in television programming will have three separate ceremonies during the Sept. 11-12 weekend.

All four ceremonies will be held at an air-conditioned tent on the Event Deck at L.A. Live, just behind the Microsoft Theater.

The TV Academy also provided specific guidelines on the proof of negative tests.

For those attending the Creative Arts ceremony on Sept. 11, they need to have the test on or after Sept. 9. For the attendees of the Sept. 12 events, they need to get tested on or after Sept. 10. Meanwhile, those who are showing up at the Primetime Emmys need to get tested on or after Sept. 17, as per Deadline.

The organizers of the event are closely working with Los Angeles County health officials to ensure the safety of the attendees and presenters at the ceremonies. Los Angeles requires masks inside commercial spaces, but the TV Academy has yet to decide whether attendees this year will be required to wear face coverings inside the tent.

Aside from the new requirements, the TV Academy also said that it has added two more categories to the Primetime Emmys that will be broadcast live on CBS and Paramount+ at 8 p.m. EDT. They are outstanding variety sketch series and outstanding variety special (live).

Hollywood is in the process of reviving its usual award season schedule despite the ongoing health crisis caused by the Delta variant. Aside from the Emmys, the Oscars also laid out its final calendar for the 2021-2022 awards season.

Meanwhile, the Golden Globes is not having a 2022 iteration after NBC decided to cancel the broadcast of its ceremony amid the controversies plaguing the Hollywood Foreign Press Association.